Tuesday 25 May 2010

Tuesday 25 May,Vienna





We left Salzburg Hauptbahnhof ( under massive reconstruction for high speed trains) at 11:02 on our way back to Vienna. Last night we had a very nice dinner in the restaurant of the Bristol then dessert in the bar at our table. Jokingly I said to Gunther that I would like a baked Alaska or make that two for dessert. Gunther looked a little puzzled at first and then Will told him to pay no attention to me, I was just being funny. However what we did have a soufflé with berries. The recipe calls for 7 eggs, berries and lots of sugar, it is freshly made and arrives hot from the kitchen, it was very good.

We said goodbye to Gunther and went off to bed. This morning at check out the owner came to say goodbye. We hope to return this winter for the Mozart week. The program looks interesting with the Hagen Quartet, Marc Minkowski, Philippe Jaroussky, Heinz Holliger, Sir Charles Mackerras, with music by Mozart, Schubert, Schostakovich, J.S. Bach, J.C. Bach and C.P.E. Bach.

The weather has been like in years past, a bit chilly, a bit rainy and now hot and sunny. This means we brought too many clothes and then bought shirts and ties and other things we liked, not to forget lead soldiers.

Austria like many European countries is changing rapidly, through immigration, many new Austrians are not natives, they come from Latin America, China, Sri Lanka, India, Turkey and Africa. They work in the service industry and you find them in hotels, restaurants, trains, airports and in many other areas of the economy. This movement of people is not just a North American phenomenon but very much something happening in the whole western world. This is why I am always surprised to hear some individuals speak against immigration as if it is a threat, think of it, if not for these new workers who would do all these essential jobs. It is changing the face of countries like Austria.
We should not forget that Austria was for centuries a multi-ethnic Empire, so maybe this is not so new after all.
This train per example started in Munich, Germany and now crosses Austria and with a final destination of Budapest, Hungary. It borders during its journey the Czech Republic and Slovakia. All these people were once part of one country.

Along the route from Salzburg all the train stations we cross on our way to Vienna are under re-construction including in Vienna the Westbahnhof, very impressive.

We went to Immervoll for lunch today just steps from our hotel. Very good food.
Tonite its opera night at the Volks Oper.

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